Kamativi accident victims identified

POLICE have released names of some of the 11 people who died in a horror accident that occurred in Kamativi last week involving church members who were on their way to Hwange from Binga.

National police spokesman Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said those who have been identified are Clemence Dube (31), a male adult of Chonga Village, Soul Sibanda (34) of Chabota, Fungai Sibanda (28) a female adult of Chabota, Prudence Dube a juvenile aged six of Chonga, Redeemer Mudenda, a three-year-old from Nambekwa 2, Itai Muleya (38) an adult female of Negangara and Alpha Muleya (37) a male adult of Mage all under Chief Siabuwa in Binga.

Eleven members of the First Apostolic Faith Mission church died in the accident which also injured 119 others when a lorry they were travelling in burst a tyre and veered off the road and plunged into a gorge in Kamativi.

The accident occurred at about 4am when an Iveco 10-tonne truck the church members were travelling in, which had 130 people on board, developed a mechanical fault and veered off the road at the 26 kilometre peg between Gwayi and Kamativi.

The church members were travelling from Siabuwa in Binga to Hwange for a church conference.

Ten of the members died on the spot while the 11th person died on admission to hospital.

The police bemoaned the fact that lives were still being lost on the country’s roads by drivers travelling late at night.

Chief Supt Nyathi urged motorists to avoid speeding and exercise caution when driving.

“All vehicles must be serviced to ensure brakes, tyres and lighting systems are in perfect order to minimise road accidents,” he urged.